Maersk Line, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, and ONE shipping lines have established the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) in order to drive standardization within new digital operating methodologies in shipping.
The DCSA already has Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), after the association was announced in the Netherlands.
André Simha, CIO of MSC and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of DCSA, said: “For the first time in twenty years, the container shipping industry has come together with a common goal to move the industry into the digital era.
“With the regulatory approval in place, we look forward for the association to take up work and to begin to collaborate with multiple stakeholders from the entire value chain.”
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The association has already started working on driving standardization, digitalization and interoperability, according to reports.
Standards remains a huge issue in the sector, and that is understood to be the first major challenge, with the DCSA aiming to create an industry blueprint for processes.
The work undertaken will be available free of charge to interested external parties.
Thomas Bagge, who joins from Maersk, has also been announced as the CEO of the DCSA.
André Simha added: “We are pleased to have with Thomas Bagge the first one of a strong leadership team in place, who is supported by all founding members and represents container shipping at its best.
“DCSA is working for the benefit of the entire container shipping industry; hence, it was important for us that the headquarters is located on neutral grounds, so no specific stakeholders or companies are favoured.”